General Biology From a Whole New Perspective

Table of Contents

Unit 1: Matter and Energy for Life
Initial Inquiry
The Biology of Trash
Guided Inquiries
1.1 A Trash Audit
1.2 Composting
1.3 Decomposition Through Contamination
1.4 Mystery Bags
1.5 Modeling Biological Molecules
1.6 What Lives in Compost?
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
1.1 Collecting Composting Data
1.2 The Disappearing Sugar Act
1.3 Landfills and Landfill Use
1.4 Incineration
1.5 Recycling
1.6 Local Issues
1.7 Toxic Waste
1.8 Sewage
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 2: Ecosystems
Initial Inquiry
Everythingisconnected
Guided Inquiries
2.1 Determining Biomass
2.2 The Role of Light and Pigments in Photosynthesis
2.3 Nitrogen Fixation
2.4 Mapping Your Ecosystem
2.5 Trophic Scavenger Hunt
2.6 How Much Land Do You Need?
2.7 Revisiting Life in the Compost
2.8 Collecting and Analyzing Your Biomass Data
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
2.1 The Lorax
2.2 Stomate Research
2.3 Investigating an Ecosystem
2.4 Extension Studies on the Copper Basin
2.5 Local Problems
2.6 Studies on Non-Point Source Water Pollution
2.7 Energy in Biomass
2.8 Networking to Acquire Information
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 3: Populations
Initial Inquiry
World Population
Guided Inquiries
3.1 My Own Population
3.2 Studying Populations
3.3 My Family in 100 Years
3.4 Predator-Prey Simulation
3.5 Pyramid Building (Demography of Populations)
3.6 How Much Has My Population Grown?
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
3.1 No Island is an Island
3.2 Population Growth in My Town
3.3 Revisiting the Video
3.4 Continued Investigations on Your own Population
3.5 The Last Days of Easter Island
3.6 Participate in the Monarch Watch
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 4: Homeostasis: The Body in Balance
Initial Inquiry
What Is Balance and How Is It Maintained?
Guided Inquiries
4.1 Diffusion
4.2 Maintaining Water Balance
4.3 Ingestion and Digestion of Food
4.4 Metabolism of Sugars
4.5 Circulation in a Goldfish
4.6 Effects of Exercise on Pulse and Breathing Rates
4.7 The Transmission of a Contagious Disease
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
4.1 Washing Your Hands of Bacteria
4.2 Lung Volume
4.3 The Effects of Temperature on the Heart Rate of Earthworms
4.4 Metabolism of Germinating Pea Seeds
4.5 Enzymes: A Look at Amylase
4.6 The Antigen-Antibody Reaction
4.7 Individual Research Projects
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 5: Inheritance
Initial Inquiry
Why Are We the Way We Are?
Guided Inquiries
5.1 Making and Analyzing Karyotypes
5.2 Modeling Mitosis
5.3 Modeling Meiosis
5.4 Determining Dominance and Recessiveness
5.5 The Chances of Inheriting a Single Trait
5.6 DNA Extraction
5.7 Building Models of DNA and RNA
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
5.1 Probabilities of Multiple Traits
5.2 Protein Production and Mutations
5.3 Observing Human Development
5.4 DNA Fingerprinting
5.5 Modeling Genetic Engineering
5.6 Researching Chromosomal Disorders
5.7 Determining Environmental Effects on Fetal Development
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 6: Behavior and the Nervous System
Initial Inquiry
The David Garabedian Case
Guided Inquiries
6.1 The Blind Walk
6.2 Over-the-Counter Drugs
6.3 The Limits of Learning
6.4 Improving Your Memory
6.5 Measuring and Comparing Reaction Rates
6.6 Arthropod Responses to Environmental Stimuli
6.7 Observing Animal Behavior
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
6.1 Human Behavior in a Shopping Mall
6.2 Awareness of Our Surroundings
6.3 Tying Your Shoelaces
6.4 Independent Research
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 7: Biodiversity
Initial Inquiry
Threats to Biodiversity
Guided Inquiries
7.1 Visualizing Five Billion Years
7.2 Who Else Goes to School?
7.3 Microbe Diversity in Standing Water
7.4 Variation
7.5 Timeline Revisited: Let's Blow Up Time!
7.6 Timeline Revisited: The Last 12,000 Years
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
7.1 Become and . . . ologist
7.2 Alien Invaders
7.3 Diversity Case Studies
7.4 What's New at the Zoo?
7.5 Protection and Restoration of Biodiversity
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Unit 8: The Biosphere
Initial Inquiry
What is the Impact of Humans on the Earth?
Guided Inquiries
8.1 A Study of Local Human Impact
8.2 A 40th Century View of Today's Human Niche
8.3 Energy Consumption
8.4 The Last Compost Audit
Self-Check 1
Conference
Extended Inquiries
8.1 Revisiting My Own Population
8.2 Sustainability in My Community
8.3 Lumber and By-Products
8.4 The Earth as an Apple
Self-Check 2
Congress
Forum
Personal Pledge
Summary of Major Concepts
Suggestions for Further Exploration

Appendices
A. Using Your BioLog
B. How to Make a Flowchart
C. How to Make a Concept Map
D. How to Use the Microscope
E. How to Set Up a Data Table
F. How to Identify Compost Organisms
G. How to Make Useful Lab Drawings
H. Math Hints
I. Major World Biomes
J. Food Calorie Information
K. Growth and Maintenance of Live Organisms in the Classroom
L. Graphing Techniques

Glossary
Credits
Index